GMs identify Jordan Crawford as potential Heat trade target
Miami is looking to deal for a young wing player who can score and take some of the load off Dwyane Wade. A few GMs have identified Boston’s Jordan Crawford as a player the Heat will go after in the coming days/weeks.
Well, I don't like this at all. Remember a few weeks ago when the Celtics decided not to extend Crawford, rather waiting to see if they can reach a deal after the season is over, and then Jordan Crawford started playing out of his mind and was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week? Of course Miami is going to target Crawford. I actually think this makes a ton of sense... I just hate the fact that Miami is on the other end of this rumor.
The Celtics acquired Jordan Crawford at the trading deadline last year for Jason Collins and Leandro Barbosa- one guy on who didn't have a role to play on the Celtics and a guy who ripped his knee in half. Under the tutilage of Brad Stevens, Crawford is morphing into the 2013-14 version of Jeremy Lin; a tremendous talent wrapped in an awesome story that has captivated the Celtics fan base.
At this point in the season, Crawford is the best trade chip the Celtics have, but what could Miami possibly offer? Crawford is making just over $2M this year, so unless Miami is targeting other members of the Celtics or looking to pull in another team, that means the players in consideration would be:
- Ray Allen: $3.2M
- James Jones: $1.5M
- Chris Anderson: $1.4
- Rashard Lewis: $1.4
- Norris Cole: $1.1M; $2M in 2014-15
- Michael Beasley, Greg Oden, Roger Mason Jr.: 880k each
Does any of that sound appetizing?
The most appealing chip Miami has on the table is conditional on how well Philadelphia plays over the next few seasons. Courtesy of RealGM, here is what Miami is holding over the next few years:
2014 first round draft pick from Philadelphia: Philadelphia's 1st round pick to Miami protected for selections 1-14 in 2014 or 1-14 in 2015; if Philadelphia has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Miami by 2015, then Philadelphia will instead convey its 2015 2nd round pick and 2016 2nd round pick to Miami [Miami-Philadelphia, 6/28/2012]
2015 first round draft pick to Cleveland: Miami's 1st round pick to Cleveland protected for selections 1-10 in 2015 or 1-10 in 2016 or unprotected in 2017 [Cleveland-Miami, 7/9/2010]
2017 second round draft pick to Atlanta: Miami's 2nd round pick to Atlanta protected for selections 31-40 in 2017 or unprotected in 2018 [Atlanta-Miami, 6/27/2013]
Philadelphia's 2014 draft pick is DEFINITELY going to be before 14, so we can forget this deal helping in this year's draft. Unless Philly's pick in 2014 does transform the franchise, we can most likely forget about the 2015 first rounder as well. Two second round picks in 2015 and 2016 might be enough when paired with a Miami expiring to move Crawford's talents to South Beach. Curiouser and curiouser.
What are you cooking up over there, Pat Riley? What's happening in that magnificent Armani clad basketball brain of yours?
Follow Padraic O'Connor on Twitter @padraic_oconnor
Photo Source: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
